Urgent Action: Please Sign the Petition to Cancel Haiti's Debt
in Time for Next Week's G8 Summit in Japan
Right now the Haitian people are suffering, struggling to pay for basic foodstuffs during the current global food crisis – as are hundreds of millions of people across Africa. The crisis is massive and has roots in the structural adjustment policies that led Haiti and many other countries to become dependent on imports for their food supply. Recently, the lack of affordable food caused riots in Port au Prince, Haiti's capital, where UN peacekeepers used rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters when demonstrations turned violent. Days later the Prime Minister was removed and has yet to be replaced.
At the same time, the Haitian government must continue to pay more than $1 million a week in debt service to wealthy creditors when it could be financing a return to local food production, subsidizing basic foodstuffs and investing in health care. The vast majority of this debt is odious, accrued during the era of the Duvalier dictatorships. The money was stolen and used to repress the Haitian people – yet the U.S. government and the multilateral development banks continue to compel the current generation of Haitians to repay these loans.
Next week is the G8 summit in Japan. US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and other G8 Finance Ministers will discuss how to address the worldwide crisis and suffering due to increasing food prices. One simple decision would be to immediately cancel the debt owed by Haiti. Many organizations have come together to create a petition to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urging him to immediately cancel Haiti's debt - please join us in signing it. Jubilee USA representatives will deliver the petition directly to the Treasury department before Secretary Paulson departs for the summit.
Click Here to Sign the Petition to Cancel Haiti's Debt
Haiti has now qualified for debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative. However, it still must implement a vast set of conditions, including many of the economic policy reforms that have exacerbated the current food crisis, before it can complete the HIPC process and access urgently needed debt cancellation.
Haiti is just one country facing a double crisis as food prices soar and debt payments take precedence over tackling poverty. The poverty that forces many Haitians to risk their lives to migrate to the United States will only accelerate until the welfare of Haitians comes before the needs of the banks. Debt cancellation has benefitted many African countries' ability to invest in the health and education of Africans. In light of the devastating food crisis, the need for Haiti to hold on to its own resources to meet the needs of its people is more urgent than ever. The American Friends Service Committee supports Jubilee USA's call for immediate debt cancellation for Haiti and for an interim moratorium on debt service for all low-income countries affected by the food crisis. For more information on Haiti, the food crisis and its debt, please click HERE.
Click Here to Sign the Petition to Cancel Haiti's Debt
With gratitude,
The Life Over Debt Team
American Friends Service Committee
Click here for more information on the AFSC Life Over Debt campaign.
After you've signed the petition, please forward it to friends and family!
______________________________
This list provides a weekly web digest with Africa specific information, inspirational quotes, and examples of grassroots African debt related successes. The National Africa Network list will repost materials from expert sources and related organizations and networks. We will also, on a monthly basis, provide subscribers with a digital copy of the AFSC’s Africa Program newsletter, Amandla, and debt focused action items.
For more information about this list, visit www.afsc.org/toward-africa or send e-mail to Africa@afsc.org. This is a moderated list for announcements and updates; it is not a discussion list.
To unsubscribe send a message to:
africa-pbu-leave@list.afsc.org
AFRICA-PBU mailing list
AFRICA-PBU@list.afsc.org
http://list.afsc.org/mailman
No comments:
Post a Comment